Pike County may be in for the first big storm of the 2012 hurricane season.

As Tropical Storm Isaac headed for the Dominican Republic late Friday, forecasters offered a varying set of projected paths for the storm – many of which send it right towards Pike County by Wednesday afternoon.

That means residents should prepare now for the worst, and hope for the best.

Each year, emergency response officials remind us to take stock of our preparations and replenish supplies: flashlights, batteries, bottled water, generators if you can afford them; copies of important documents, extra medication when necessary; evacuation plans and emergency contact numbers.

And they remind us to prepare for the dangers associated with storms such as Isaac: heavy rainfall and flash flooding, lightning and high winds, potential tornadoes.

So please take a moment this weekend to take stock and stock up on what you may need, from batteries to candles to bottled water and bread. And please continue to monitor the weather reports and forecasts for information about the storm’s path.

The Messenger will be posting updates from local emergency management officials on our website, www.troymessenger.com, and our FB page throughout the weekend. We’ll do our best to keep you informed and updated, so you can be prepared for whatever weather may lie ahead next week.